Tag: Australia

GPA Parties Criticize OMB Infrastructure Guidance

Parties to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), led by the European Union  and echoed by Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, criticized US  implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) at a

WTO GPA Update #10: Accession Negotiations

A report of the June 27th meeting of the WTO government procurement committee pointed to progress in negotiations of WTO members to join the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). It has been two years since the GPA added new members. This post highlights

Trump’s 232 Choice: Tariffs or Quotas?

In March, the president exercised his authority under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose 25% tariffs on steel imports and 10% tariffs on aluminum imports, based on findings that the imports threatened the national security. The tariffs

EU Highlights Foreign Procurement Barriers

On June 26, 2017, the European Commission released its 7th annual Report on Trade and Investment Barriers for 2016. It identified 372 trade barriers in over 50 countries, a 10% increase over 2015. The Report highlights 36 new barriers and the resolution of

WTO GPA Update #9: Current Accession Negotiations

The WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) appears poised for expansion in 2017 – for the third straight year. According to the WTO Secretariat’s report of the June meeting of the GPA committee, several accession negotiations are nearing

TPP Procurement: Modest Improvements in Existing Coverage

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) opens new government procurement markets for U.S. goods, services and suppliers in three countries (Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam). All the other TPP parties (Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru

Australia Prepares to Join the GPA

Australia has already undertaken significant procurement reform and commitments that should facilitate its GPA negotiations. On November 14, Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister, Andrew Robb, announced Australia’s commitment to work towards joining